Introductory matter
Dramatis Personæ.
PRIAM, TROJAN.
Hector, TROJAN.
Troilus, TROJAN.
Paris, TROJAN.
Deiphobus, TROJAN.
Helenus, TROJAN.
Æneas [Aeneas], TROJAN.
Pandarus, TROJAN.
Antenor, TROJAN.
A bastard Son of Priam [Margarelon].
Agamemnon, GREEK.
Achilles, GREEK.
Ajax, GREEK.
Menelaus, GREEK.
Ulysses, GREEK.
Nestor, GREEK.
Diomedes, GREEK.
Patroclus, GREEK.
Thersites, GREEK.
Calchas, GREEK.
Helen, Wife to Menelaus, in Love with Paris.
Andromache, Wife to Hector.
Cassandra, Daughter to Priam, a Prophetess.
Cressida, Daughter to Calchas, in love with Troilus.
Alexander, Cressida's Man.
Boy, Page to Troilus.
Trojan and Greek Soldiers, with other Attendants.
[Servant], [Myrmidon], [Soldiers]
SCENE, Troy; and the Grecian Camp, before it.
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1 noteTroilus and Cressida.
PROLOGUE.
In Troy, there lies the scene: from Isles of Greece
The Princes orgillous, their high blood chaf'd,
Have to the Port of Athens sent their ships,
Fraught with the ministers and instruments
Of cruel war. Sixty and nine, that wore
Their Crownets regal, from th' Athenian bay
Put forth toward Phrygia, and their vow is made
To ransack Troy; within whose strong Immures,
The ravish'd Helen, Menelaus' Queen,
With wanton Paris sleeps; and That's the Quarrel.
To Tenedos they come—
And the deep-drawing Barks do there disgorge
Their warlike fraughtage. Now on Dardan plains,
The fresh, and yet unbruised, Greeks do pitch
Their brave Pavillions. Priam's six Gates i'th' City,
(Dardan, and Thymbria, Ilia, Scæa, Troian,
And Antenorides,) with massy staples
And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts,
1 noteSperre up the sons of Troy.—
Now expectation tickling skittish spirits
On one and other side, Trojan and Greek,
Sets all on hazard. And hither am I come
A Prologue arm'd, (but not in confidence
Of Author's pen, or Actor's voice; but suited
In like conditions as our Argument;)
To tell you, (fair Beholders) that our play
Leaps o'er the vaunt and firstlings of those broils,
'Ginning i'th' middle: starting thence away,
To what may be digested in a Play.
Like, or find fault,—do, as your pleasures are;
Now good, or bad, 'tis but the chance of war.
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Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
